GRi Newsreel 20-05-99

"Now, as we approach a new millennium, the emphasis has changed. Many, if not all of our political goals, have been achieved and it is the economic battlefield which now engages our attention."

President Rawlings was launching the Fifth African-African American Summit at the Accra International Conference Centre that has brought together 12 Heads of State, a Monarch, some Prime Ministers and Vice-Presidents.

He said there are still unacceptable levels of poverty, ignorance and disease in Africa despite its resources.

"Much of the huge potential of Africa is still locked up through lack of capital and business expertise.

"That is why the focus of this Summit is on trade and investment, which we recognise now as the needed fuel to spark the engine of development.

"The African Renaissance, which is our vision for the 21st century, depends on sustainable economic growth."

President Rawlings said "whilst we deem it unfair that the image of Africa the international media portrays relates more to conflict and disaster, we have to admit the grain of truth in the picture".

"It is the responsibility of all Africans to work for peace and unity on our continent. We can do this through the inter-state institutions we have established and through the promotion and maintenance of democratic political relations that are responsive to the concerns of our people."

The President said a disturbing aspect of the democratisation process in Africa is the liberalisation of their economies.

"There are structural aspects of the world economy that hinder further growth. The growing external debt burden as well as the disadvantageous terms of trade are some of the most serious of the structural constraints."

Therefore, he called for urgent action by the international community for debt relief and development assistance, which, combined with trade and investment, would improve the economic circumstances of African countries.

President Rawlings said Africa need to do more to win the confidence of the outside world for them to see "our economies as safe havens for investment and trade".

"We must also work out an efficient way to reduce the cost of transacting business in Africa as a means of stimulating investment".

President Rawlings said in the post-Cold War era, industrialised Europe provides generous assistance for Eastern Europe while Africa is relatively marginalised.

"Today, we see the urgency with which the developed world has gone to the aid of the hundreds of thousands of unfortunate refugees forced to flee their homes in Kosovo. We hear talk of a new Marshall Plan to help the Balkans recover from the devastation of the war."

Meanwhile, he said, Africa is home to 4 million refugees and at least 10 million internally displaced people.

"I hasten to repeat that some developed countries cannot be absolved of responsibility for some of the bitter conflicts that continue to worsen the refugee crisis on the continent."

President Rawlings added: "our meeting should serve to strengthen our kinship in a way that will help Africa overcome the problem of poverty and thereby remove a major cause of conflict on the continent".

He thanked African Americans for helping to promote the "visibility which Africa is enjoying in American business circles as en emerging market".

President Rawlings said Africa has had its fair share of well-intentioned declarations and initiatives, but after more than 40 years of independence, the continent is still struggling to achieve a basic level of development for its people.

"What it means is that words are not enough. We need action. On our part as leaders, we must face our responsibilities for putting an end to the relentless cycle of conflict and allow democratic governance and the sustainable development of our countries to take root."

He said the cause of Africa would not be served if leaders continued to take decisions that only perpetuate the artificial division of countries created by colonialism.

President Rawlings said Ghana would make its modest contributions towards the realisation of the objectives, which the Summit would seek to achieve.

"We have turned a nation which was on the brink of economic disaster to a country of orderly development, democratic participation and proud confidence," he said.

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African Presidents display unity

Accra (Greater Accra), 20^th May '99 -

African Presidents attending the fifth African African-American Summit in Accra today put up a rare show of unity when they graced the presidential plenary session sporting identical shirts sewn from the summit's ceremonial cloth.

Except for Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Abdou Diouf of Senegal who were in suits, leaders from Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, the Sudan, Benin and Tanzania were clad in the brown and beige colours of the ceremonial fabric.

This was not lost on the packed house of delegates who did not hesitate to acknowledge the fashionable presidential unity with a standing ovation.

The leaders carried the mood of unity into their speeches as one after the other, they stressed that more action, rather than rhetoric, was what was needed to realise the ideals of the summit which is under the theme, "Business, trade and investment".

Their call for action was well placed in view of the fact that in the eight-year history of the summit little has been realised in the socio-economies of African states, including those which have hosted the first four versions; Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

The main hall of the Accra International Conference Centre, where the session took place, was awash with motley of styles and colours mainly comprising African, European and military wear by the gathering.

The presidential session really lived up to its tag as the climax of the five-day summit as newsmen and camera crews struggled with each other and with some delegates to catch the best rhetoric or shot of proceedings.

At the end of the session, the Presidents cemented their unity with a group photograph.

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President Diouf calls for end to wars in Africa

Accra (Greater Accra), 20^th May '99 --

President Abdou Diouf of Senegal on Wednesday called on the international community to support mechanisms for conflict resolution in Africa to end the wars on the continent.

"All that Africa needs to develop is peace. We want to do away with the conflicts on the continent through strengthening the mechanisms for conflict resolution in the various sub-regions of the continent," President Diouf told a packed to capacity Presidential Plenary session of the Fifth African-African American Summit in Accra.

The week-long Summit, which started on Monday reached its climax on Wednesday, when 11 African Heads of States, a Monarch and over a dozen top government officials from the United States and other African States met to discuss the future of the Continent.

Under a broad theme "Business, Trade and Investment: Africa Can Compete" the biennial Summit has also recorded the highest number of over 4,000 participants from around the world with majority being African Americans.

President Diouf said the summit's objective of launching Africa into the 21st Century could only be realised on the basis of a strengthened partnership between Africa and African Americans.

"We believe that with your influence Africa will receive the needed attention it deserves in fostering a strong relationship with the rest of the world," President Diouf said.

To him, the way forward for the continent, which is saddled with huge debt overhang, high illiteracy rate and naked poverty, is integration and investments.

"Education, training and cancellation of 90 per cent of our (Africa) debt while the remaining 10 per cent should be converted into investment will be an impetus to propel us into the next millennium," President Diouf, who played host to the third Summit, told the audience.

Like his colleagues, President Diouf harped on the huge debt burden which he said; "was stifling growth".

Africa spends about a third of its annual income in servicing debt owed to rich developed nations and multilateral institutions.

Less than a quarter of what Africa pays to service debt is more than what the continent invests in education and health sectors.

Perhaps that is the reason for the commitment to debt cancellation and more investment flow into the continent has been the priority of African leaders.

President Konan Bedie of Cote d'Ivoire's, noted the positive changes the Summit has brought to Africa, and said "Africa is democratising politically and liberalising economically".

He said the eight-year history of the Summit has helped to shed some of the negative image held internationally about the continent and has also assisted to map out alternative avenues to Africa's socio-economic development.

President Bedie said 25 African countries have been able to hold free elections while the annual economic growth rate across the continent has increased from negative digits in the early 1990s to four per cent from 1995 to 1997.

These positive trends, he said, have been enhanced by President Bill Clinton's visit to the continent, adding that the visit has also increased Africa's potentials in the eyes of the world.

He paid tribute to the Rev Dr. Leon Sullivan saying through his Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (OICs) in parts of Africa the debt burden has reduced, more schools have been constructed while more teachers have been fielded in schools.

President Bedie said the Cote d'Ivoire OIC has established training institutions in the fields of livestock, technical vocation and an information technology centre, which in its eight-year history has trained 3,500 youth in computers, 3,200 of who are in employment.

Presidents Bedie and Diouf left Accra Wednesday evening for home.

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Mugabe calls for more African integration, slams Financial Institutions

Accra (Greater Accra) 20 May '99

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday called on Africans to take their destiny into their hands and work tirelessly to integrate their peoples and economies for accelerated development.

President Mugabe said it would take the will of all the African people themselves and those in the Diaspora to brave the unfavourable dictates of the financial institutions and march the continent forward.

"As we remodel our strategies towards development, we should remember that the most meticulous documents will not resolve the challenges that lie ahead of us, unless we back them with deeds, more action and not just words," he said.

President Mugabe was speaking at the Fifth African-African American summit currently underway in Accra.

In attendance were 12 African heads of state, five Vice-Presidents and more than 4,000 delegates the majority of them, African Americans.

The dignitaries included United States Secretary for Labour Alexis Herman, who led the American official delegation, the Rev Jesse Jackson, President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy for Africa and some 12 American City Mayors, as well as the convenor of the summit the Rev Leon Sullivan.

President Mugabe, who hosted the last summit two years ago, described the Accra summit as having an emotional content because the process towards the continent's liberation and integration originated in Ghana.

He paid tribute to Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Du Bois, George Padmore, Marcus Gavey and Malcom-X for their struggle to free and unite the people but expressed regret that much has not been done by the present generation to fully realise their vision.

President Mugabe buttressed an earlier call made by host President Jerry John Rawlings for the bridging of the gap between Africans and those in the Diaspora, especially in America, saying it is through closer ties that the proper environment for trade and investment could be created.

He said the goals and objectives of some continental groupings such as the Organisation of African Unity should be strengthened on the day-to-day basis.

He commended President Clinton's historic tour of Africa last year as well as the commitment of some African Americans, including Rev Sullivan, and urged all Africans in the Diaspora to play the pivotal role in the development of the continent.

"Let your voice continue to be heard among us, let your thoughts continue to open those doors that have remained locked to us," President Mugabe said.

He lashed at the International Financial Institutions for what he termed injustices against Africa, citing "conditionalities" of the IMF towards his own country and some others.

He accused the IMF and the World Bank of making deliberate attempts to keep Africa down saying, these institutions have lost their perspective, which make him wonder sometimes if their policies were inherent of their structure or dictated from outside.

The IMF, he said now tend to be drawing on issues that are extraneous to its objectives.

For example, he said, after satisfying all its prescriptions, the IMF resorted to questioning how Zimbabwe was funding its troops that were sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He explained that the Zimbabwean troops as well as those from other sister countries went to the DRC at the invitation of that government to support it from falling prey to rebel incursions.

"We are fighting against aggression and there is a feeling (by the IMF) that we should not have gone there. We should allow that government to fall prey to the aggressors," he said and asked, "where is the justice?"

He called for America's intervention in IMF's dealings with Africa.

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Annan: Africa can overcome her problems if..

Accra (Greater Accra), 20^th May 99 -

Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary General of United Nations on Wednesday said Africa can overcome the quagmire it finds itself in today if her leaders could identify the root causes and deal with them on a sustained basis.

This was contained in a message read for him at the Presidential Plenary Session of the Fifth African-African American Summit underway in Accra.

Mr Annan said Africa was struggling to come to terms with a wide range of problems, which have been compounded by political instability and insecurity.

"These problems are surmountable if we are able to identify our problems and their root causes ", he stressed.

The Session is being attended by 12 Presidents, four Vice-Presidents, one Prime Minister, one Vice-Prime Minister, a monarch, and leading American business and political leaders.

This is the largest gathering of Presidents at the Africa-African American Summit since it was first held in Cote d' Ivoire in 1991.

He said for Africa to move forward in the next millennium there is the need for a home grown agenda that look at not just short-term gains, "but long term plans and profits that have the potential to propel the continent and list it among those that count".

The UN boss said Africa has all the ingredients, resources, trained manpower, strong emerging financial markets and changing environment programmes that would be of interest to foreign investors.

"Africa must be helped to develop her capacity, saying, she has demonstrated ample evidence in this respect".

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Peoples investment for Africa fund launched

Accra (Greater Accra), 20^th May 99 -

The Reverend Leon Sullivan, the Convenor of the Fifth African-African American Summit underway in Accra on Wednesday launched the "People's Investment For Africa (PIFA)" to raise money to support Africa's development.

PIFA, which is an investment vehicle of promissory notes, will attract a six per cent annual interest and will be managed by African Development Bank based in Abidjan.

Taking the first step with a cheque for 2,000 dollars to start the scheme, Rev Sullivan said the time has come for Africa to breakaway from depending on rich nations for aid and assistance.

"We do not have to beg anymore. We (Africa) have a future and the future is Africa.

"They took us away in chains and shackles, but we have come back in aeroplanes.

"We have not come back with empty hands. We have come back with trained minds as bankers, doctors, scientists and what have you...and together the future is ours," the emotionally charged Rev Sullivan told the audience at a well attended Presidential Plenary session of the Summit.

Rev Sullivan, who laced his emotional speech with biblical references, said the past belonged to the Europeans while America and Asia have had their turn of global development.

"...We are the future of the world. And the future is now. We have come back together and we will never be separated again."

The visionary of the biennial Summit, which began in 1991 and serves as a rallying point for supporting the African cause said all that the continent needs is education, investment and technical support.

He said PIFA is a modest beginning of the good things that will happen to Africa in future.

Some Africans pledged about 150,000 dollars immediately the scheme was launched.

This, he said, will be used to support over 1,000 new small-scale businesses in Africa.

Africa, according to a World Development Report, needs 100 billion dollars a year to sustain between six and seven per cent growth rate.

Rev Sullivan said the challenge of the new relationship between Africa and African Americans is to press for debt relief for Africa.

"We will tell the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the American Government that Africa needs special hearing on its debts," Rev Sullivan said.

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CEPS commissioner warns personnel against corruption

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 19 May ’99

Five officers of the Customs Excise And Preventive Service (CEPS) have been sacked and 20 others interdicted for various malpractices since the beginning of the year.

Nii Okine Adjei, newly appointed commissioner of CEPS who disclosed this at Sunyani on Wednesday warned that the days of corruption in the service are over and those who compromise their positions for personal gains would be axed without mercy.

He was addressing a workers' durbar at Sunyani on Tuesday as part of his three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo region.

Nii Adjei said corruption in the service is so endemic that some custom officers are literary deemed to be on sale in the eyes of smugglers and their agents.

" The biggest honour that any citizen can receive is to be trusted with the noble task of collecting revenue for your country so if you cannot reciprocate this honour by being truthful, then you have no place in CEPS", he declared.

Nii Adjei who assumed office barely three months ago, announced that the service is fashioning out a scheme to reward personnel who distinguish themselves in the course of their duties.

He said management is taking steps to provide some of the logistical needs of the service to enable personnel achieve their revenue targets and urged them give off their best to justify their demands for better conditions of service.

The regional commander of CEPS, Mr James Kwasi Acheampong, said the region is not performing well in terms of revenue collection because of many difficulties including lack of logistics.

He was hopeful that the visit of the commissioner would help change the situation for the better.

The head of the public relations department of CEPS, Mrs. Anni Anipa, who accompanied the commissioner, said public image of the service is at the lowest ebb due to widespread belief that CEPS personnel are corrupt.

"Let us therefore discharge our duties with integrity from now and rid the service of its present bad image", she stressed.

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Find causes for decline in education in Ashanti -Asantehene

Kumasi (Ashanti region) 20 May '99

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Wednesday tasked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission to furnish him with the factors contributing to the falling standards of education in Ashanti region.

He said they should include recommendations to remedy the situation.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the request during a courtesy call on him by Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana and the Board of Governors of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School (AMASS) at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

He also called for ideas from educationists in Ashanti on how to rekindle interest in education and the way to sustain it.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu decried the rush for quick wealth by the youth at the expense of education and said he has started a series of consultations and discussions with chiefs on how to tackle the problem.

The Asantehene announced the institution of a scholarship scheme from September, for brilliant but needy students.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission for spearheading secular education for all Ghanaians and hoped they would continue with their good work.

Maulvi Wahab Adam noted that the Mission had had successful relationships with successive Asante Kings.

The Mission has always championed the cause of peace and accepted secular education as a means of raising the awareness of the people.

Maulvi Adam said, having established schools and hospitals, the Mission is now branching into agriculture to encourage the people to grow more food.

He later presented a copy of the Holy Quran to the Asantehene.

In another development, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, instituted a 10 million-cedi scholarship scheme for indigent students at Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School (OKESS) in Kumasi.

He asked that an account should be opened and the interest that would accrue used for the scheme, which starts from this year.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this when a delegation from the school paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace.

The delegation, led by the Headmaster of the school, Mr Fredrick Acheampong, included members of the Board of Governors, the Old Students' and Parent Teacher associations (PTA), staff and some students.

He said he was happy to see old faces from his alma mater, stressing that he is really determined to assist in the development of education and other areas human of endeavour, to bring about general accelerated growth in the country.

The Asantehene said he has the school at heart and urged the old students and all stakeholders to help build it.

He advised the students to be obedient and to respect their teachers and take their studies very seriously so that they would become useful citizens.

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Assemblies urged to strengthen revenue mobilisation base

Dormaa Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo) 20^th May 99 --

The Brong Ahafo regional minister, Mr Donald Adabre, has stated that no District Assembly can develop its area of jurisdiction without ample financial resource.

He has therefore called on District Assemblies in the region to formulate and execute strategies for the effective mobilisation of revenue to meet the expectations of their communities.

Mr Adabre was addressing the Dormaa District Assembly at its first ordinary meeting at Dormaa Ahenkro on Tuesday.

He noted that the Common Fund alone cannot cater for the numerous projects expected to be carried out by the assembly, and urged assembly members to explore sources of revenue to support the development needs of their areas.

Mr Adabre said the District Assembly concept is a "dynamic and viable instrument for the social and economic transformation of the people, whose trust are in the assembly".

He said certain divisive tendencies have lately characterised the work of district assemblies, while partisan influences have been the bane of some of them, and others get involved in chieftaincy matters.

"Getting involved in unwarranted politics that lead to excessive partisan posture and inclinations does not augur well for the assembly's developmental obligations" Mr Adabre warned.

He announced that plans are far advanced for the Electoral Commission to conduct elections to fill vacancies in the 43 unit committees in the region, which have been vacant since last year.

The Regional Minister commended the Dormaa District Assembly for achieving 95 per of targeted revenue last year and urged it to aspire to hit the 100 per cent.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Kwadwo Boateng, said the assembly has planned to collect 1.498 billion cedis this year, out of which 80.6 million cedis is expected to come from traditional sources.

Stool lands revenue is also expected to reap 300 million cedis while 1.005 billion cedis will come from the Common Fund and ceded revenue.

On expenditure, Mr Boateng said 970 million cedis would be spent on development projects, 525.6 million cedis on recurrent expenditure and 280 million cedis on emoluments.

The assembly has so far disbursed 120 million cedis under its poverty alleviation fund to 1,500 people in the district to enable them to establish or expand their businesses.

The DCE said the Youth in Agriculture project has taken off in the district, and already 13 farming groups have been granted loans totalling 20 million cedis.

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Thirty-six lawyers appointed Notaries Public

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May ’99

Thirty-six lawyers, including three ladies, who have been enrolled as Notaries Public, on Wednesday took the oath of administration and were reminded that they should be honest in their work.

The Chief Justice, Mr Justice Isaac Kobina Abban who administered the oath, said their appointment was based on the fact that he considered them to be fit and able to discharge duties assigned to that office by law or by the practice of commerce.

He said they were required to perform their work with "trust and fidelity, dignity and be well instructed in business and commerce, adroit in framing acts and taking the examination of witnesses".

"Functions of a Notary are numerous and entail greater responsibilities and skill, such as authentication of documents which may be used abroad, proficiency in the principles and practice of international law, preparation of documents on contracts, leases, powers of attorney, articles of partnership, wills and other legal instruments," he said.

The Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) which was passed by Parliament in December, 1960, empowers the Chief Justice to appoint and confer the title of Notary Public on a lawyer of high moral character and proven integrity and of not less than 10 years standing in practice.

Mr Justice Abban told the Notaries that in order to perform such responsibilities creditably, they must reasonably "exercise the skill, care and diligence that is usually employed by persons of ordinary capacity engaged in their profession and in their own business affairs".

The Chief Justice said the law protects them from refusing to act where the circumstances appear to them suspicious and not warranting the "notarial act."

He asked them to carry out their clients' instructions, explain their rights, obligations and liabilities and see that every precaution is taken to protect their interests.

A Notarian found guilty of misdemeanor faces suspension from practising for a period of time or an order by the Supreme Court to expunge his name from the Roll of Notaries.

Nii Amassah Kotey on behalf of his colleagues thanked the Chief Justice for the honour done them and gave the assurance that they would perform their duties to justify the trust reposed in them.

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UCC announces calendar for completion of academic year

Cape Coast (Central Region) 19 May ’99

The University of Cape Coast today announced a new programme to complete the academic year following the re-opening of the University last Saturday, May 15.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the registrar, Mr Kweku Konadu said classes resumed on Wednesday May 19 and that lectures would end on Friday July 23, 1999.

It said pre-registration of courses would begin on Monday June 28 to Friday August six, 1999.

The second semester examinations would begin on Monday July 26 to Friday August six

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GES takes steps to effect prompt payment of teachers' salaries

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May ’99

The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Controller and Accountant-General are discussing the possibility of getting salaries of fresh teachers lodged with the Regional Directorates while their postings are being sorted out to avoid unusual delay.

A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Director-General of GES, said they are making arrangements for manual payment of the initial salaries of newly trained teachers from the regions pending eventual mechanisation.

The statement said delay in payment of initial salaries of newly trained teachers is partly caused by the teachers themselves.

"Delays in assumption of duty by these teachers also create undue delays in the completion, submission and internal processing of Integrated Personnel Payroll Database (IPPD) forms."

It advised Principals of teacher training colleges to sensitize their students through induction courses to accept postings to their stations.

The statement said, last year, submission of completed IPPD forms to Headquarters commenced within the first month of re-opening.

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Education to ensure voter turn out underway

Hamile (Upper West) 19 May ’99

A team of officials from the headquarters of the National Commission for Civic Education and the Upper West Regional Directorate of the commission has started a series of campaigns in the Lambussie constituency aimed at ensuring a massive turn out during the bye-election on May 26.

The team has so far toured 61 polling stations in 15 electoral areas of the constituency.

At Hamile, Mr Ben Banye, Upper West Regional Director of the commission told the people that it was their civic responsibility to elect a replacement for Mr Luke Koo, who died last month.

He called on farmers in the constituency to sacrifice a day's farming to cast their votes.

Mr Banye assured the public that with the level of educational campaign done in the area, the turn out in the bye-election would be higher than the 1996 parliamentary elections.

The constituency has about 17,000 registered voters.

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Amnesty International launches campaign against US

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May ’99

Amnesty International, a United States-based human rights group, on Tuesday launched a campaign against racism and death penalty.

The campaign, which kicks against the use of the death penalty as a deterrent to offenders, vehemently condemned the United States in particular and other developing countries for sticking to this form of punishment.

It described death penalty as inhuman, cruel and violation of the rights to life.

Mr Pierre Sane, General Secretary of Amnesty International who launched the campaign at a press conference in Accra, said there is no scientific proof that the death penalty has reduced crime in any part of the world.

He also outdoored a report, "United States of America Rights For All - Killing With Prejudice: Race and the Death Penalty," which criticises the US Government and others for carrying out the death penalty and calls on authorities in that country to abolish it.

The report said racial discrimination remains deeply ingrained in the US legal system.

It said prejudices of police, jurors, judges and prosecutors are the by-products of racial stereotyping.

Mr Sane said: "Amnesty International unconditionally opposes the death penalty under all circumstances."

The death penalty in the US is applied disproportionately based on race, ethnicity and social status.

There are prejudices against the African American community in the US, Mr Sane noted, saying that blacks and other minority groups are victims of such prejudices.

He called on Africans and Africans in the Diaspora to help and join the crusade against the death penalty.

Mr Sane also urged African governments using the death sentence as punishment to stop the practice.

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Duffuor re-launches heart campaign

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May ’99

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ghana Heart Foundation (GHF), on Tuesday night re-launched the fund-raising campaign for the Heart Fund saying they failed to meet the target for last year.

"This year the target remains unchanged at 2.4 billion cedis and I appeal to the general public to contribute only 200 cedis a month to enable us meet the target," he said at a press conference.

If the target is achieved about 200 needy, patients will have heart surgery free of charge within the year.

Dr. Duffuor said the Heart Fund (HF) is not in the position to bear the full cost of operations for needy people since donations are far below expectation.

He noted that last year only 7,500 out of the expected one million individuals and a number of corporate bodies donated 861 million cedis out of the expected 2.4 billion cedis into the fund.

Dr. Duffuor, who is also the Governor of the Central Bank, said between January and May this year, only 320 million cedis had been donated by individuals and corporate bodies.

This, he said, is a little above one-third of the expected amount needed.

Dr. Duffuor explained that the promise of the NCC to offer free operation was based on the premise of its appeal for one million Ghanaians to donate 200 cedis each every month. This would have amounted to 200 million cedis a month and 2.4 billion cedis a year.

He said due to inadequate funds, 117 million cedis was used to sponsor only up to 50 per cent of the cost of operation for 31 needy persons last year.

Some individuals, organisations and Churches have threatened to stop donating to the fund because the GHF could not fully bear the cost of operation of their members and workers.

"We should not expect that as soon as one puts 200 cedis into the fund then the GHF is obliged to pay for the full cost of heart surgery for the donor in need."

Dr. Duffuor assured the public that members of the board of the trustees would exploit other sources of revenue and make use of the health insurance scheme that the government would soon launch.

Dr. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Head of the NCC, said despite inadequate funds, only five patients died after being diagnosed last year.

He dismissed rumours that donations meant for operations are used in furnishing the NCC, saying that the centre does not account to the administration of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital "thus we use the revenue we generate to develop the centre."

Dr. Frimpong-Boateng noted that heart and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for about 12 million deaths globally every year, saying about six million people die of CVDs in the developing world alone.

Records at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital confirm this trend, he said adding that currently more deaths occur through CVDs than through infectious diseases.

"The World Health Organisation has therefore declared CVDs as the number one public enemy and an emerging epidemic".

He noted that while governments of developing nations are committed to promoting other emerging sectors of their economies, they give very little attention to the emerging epidemic.

Dr. Frimpong-Boateng therefore called on the government to commit more money to train experts and to educate the public against CVDs "if we are to change the current trend."

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Co-ordinate all efforts towards development of Asanteman

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 May ’99

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on all benevolent societies, groups and institutions in Ashanti to co-ordinate their efforts towards the effective and efficient development of Asanteman.

He said the general improvement in the living standards of the people within Asanteman should be the cardinal principle of all such institutions.

There is the need to improve the standard of education and health, promote tourism and establish cottage industries to create employment avenues for the youth.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking when members of Asante Kotoko Society (AKS), led by their executive committee paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, on Tuesday, to congratulate him on his enstoolment.

The Society was formed in the early 20th century (about 1916) to agitate for the return of Nana Agyemang Prempeh I, Asantehene, from the Sychelles Island, where the British Colonialists had banished him.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the Society should devote itself to helping most of the communities, which lack basic amenities to improve on their standard of living.

He noted that the intellectuals, who formed the core of the Society had an objective and these could be realised if the present members initiate scholarship schemes for needy children, adopt some children in orphanages and assist the sick and indigent in the communities.

Mr M. Y. Asare-Bediako, President of the Society, thanked the Asantehene for the advice and assured him that the society would live up to expectation and have frequent interaction with him as the Life Patron, for the development and progress of Asanteman.

He enumerated some of the activities of the society, which included improvement in education, health, trade and the rehabilitation of Kumasi roads and assured him that they would not rest on their oars but live up to expectation.

The Society later presented customary drinks to Otumfuo Osei Tutu.

GRi../

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